Mess With Our Editors! This Month: The Spray-Tan Abs Challenge

My (shy) "pre-tan" shot

Sorry guys, no bikini photos here--this tummy hasn't seen the light of day (or, um, the gym) since last summer! So I was looking forward to hitting Sundara, a New York City bronzing boutique, for my first airbrush tan; supposedly, the superfine mist gives you totally even, streak-free color. On top of that, you can get "shading," which plays up your muscle tone or enhances your curves in certain spots--Britney reportedly got her abs sprayed before last year's VMA appearance--this part is done with bronzer, so the effect only lasts until you shower.

This is when I got nervous...

Here's my tanning guru, Natalie, wielding her airbrush gun. Her customers usually get nekkid and stand on the towel but I, continuing my shy streak, kept on my bra and jeans and only had her spray my midsection. She said she was going to give me a softer (read: more believable) toned look, not a painted-on six-pack. Fine by me!

The "after" shot

Natalie sprayed on the color in thin, even strips. It took all of five minutes to get a warm glow. Though my amateur photography doesn't do her work justice, she shaded my sides more darkly, which made my midsection look really hourglass-shaped and sexy. Suddenly I felt tempted to strip down and get my whole body done. I popped into a corner with ceiling and wall fans to quickly dry off. Natalie said my tan would darken gradually over the next eight hours.

The "after" feeling!

I raced home and danced around the apartment, showing my boyfriend my Shakira-like, enhanced curves. Though the shading was gone after my first shower (when the bronzer came off), the tan lasted for days. Verdict: I'll be going back to see Natalie before my next big beach day--I can't wait to see what she does with my thighs!

Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com

Click to see beauty writer-editor Baze Mpinja take on a fake-lash challenge.